This is the 12th consecutive year the designation has been established in order to raise awareness of the dangers of exposure to asbestos, as well as the fact that the carcinogenic material has yet to be banned in the U.S. Senate Resolution 125 , sponsored by Senator Edward J. Markey , was passed on March 27. Asbestos has been linked to several serious diseases including mesothelioma, a form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, abdomen and, in certain instances, the heart. Even though the World Health Organization reports that asbestos causes more than 100,000 deaths globally each year, the U.S. still allows the import of this deadly material.
